Bronze Elvis to appear at Blaisdell

A permanent, life-size statue will honor the isles' "adopted son"

By Tara Godvin
Associated Press

Elvis Presley fans will soon have a place in the islands to fondly remember why they couldn't help falling in love with the star of "Blue Hawaii."

Wearing his signature flare-legged, big-collared, bejeweled and strategically snug ensemble, the King will reappear in the islands in the form of a life-size bronze statue marking the site of his historic 1973 concert "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii."

The statue, commissioned by TV Land, a division of MTV Networks, will be unveiled in July in front of the Neal Blaisdell Center. The tribute by the network and the City and County of Honolulu is meant to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Presley's death at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977.

"Elvis remains an idol and a hero to so many of us. And because of his time spent here, Hawaii considers him an adopted son," said Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, himself a crooner who sang a Hawaii-themed medley at his inauguration.

"Elvis will forever remain a part of Hawaii's identity -- from his film 'Blue Hawaii' to his 1961 benefit performance to raise money for the USS Arizona Memorial, to the historic concert which the sculpture commemorates," the mayor said.

The '73 concert was the first musical event sent around the world by satellite.

The resulting live album has since gone platinum five times over.

ASSOCIATED PRESS / 1973
Elvis Presley will reappear in the islands in the form of a life-size bronze statue marking the site of his historic 1973 concert "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii." CLICK FOR LARGE